A MURDEROUS PLOT. STRYCHNINE SENT TO THREE PREACHERS..

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 421, 20 November 1889, Page 3

A MURDEROUS PLOT. STRYCHNINE SENT TO THREE PREACHERS..

St. Joiix (N.8.), October 4. —This city was thrown into a etato of horror to-day over a wholesale attempt to poison the families of three Protestant clergymen. On Wednesday the wife of Rev. Donald Macßa& died • suddenly after having been" seized with spasms,' and the announcement late last night; that an inquest would bje held on the remains wag received with surprise. It has become known that she was the victim, of poison sent through o the mails in a box of confectionory. On Wodnesday morning a box was delivered by the 'postman at Rev. Dr. Macllae's residence, and a servant received it and handed it to Mrs Macßae. It is believed that ' sho ate of confectionery and died in consequence, the attending physician, Dr. Christie, being ol> the opinion that her symptoms were those of poisoning >i by strychnine. The box was handed toAV. F. Best, public analyst, and an analysis resulted, in finding enough strychnine in each piece to kill any person partaking of it. 1 ' '' [ Further inquiries, -di-closed 'that* 'three Protestant clergymen— Rev. Dr. Macßae, Rev. J. Deseyres, and Re v v., T. J. Dainstadt —had each similar packages sent to their add! ess, the unmistakable object being tho holesale poisoning of themselves and their families. The box in each case appears to have been a small white one, three or four inches square, and having no other marks than the address and 6 cents in postage stamps. . ■ When Mr Deseyres received his package he hositated about opening it, but later partook of some of the mixture it contained. He detected a bitter taste quite foreign to any sweetmeats and at once removed it from his mouth, boing careful not to swallow any of the substance. Mr Doseyres concluded to take the candy to Dr. Harding, who informed him that tho taste was that of strychnine In the ca&e of Mr Deinstadt the package was delivered by the postman to a little girl, who handed it to the clergyman's wife. She. thought it was a wedding cake, but on opening it found it contained candy, and only an intuitive feqjing kept her from giving some of the mixture to the child. The mystery has given rise to all sorts of reports and rumours as to tho origin And extent of the attempt, -/.and .raa'ny persons recall the fact that some time ago similar packages were sent to diHerenfc people in the city, but with no, fatal results. The Solicitor-Ueneral has been active 6ince the terrible facts became known. '